State

State Representative, 44th District

Vote for: 1
Term: 2 years
Candidates: 3
Election: Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: A state representative votes on Ohio laws and the state budget in the Ohio House of Representatives.

Western and southern Lucas County (Sylvania, Monclova, Waterville, Providence, Swanton, Spencer, Richfield, Harding and Roche de Boeuf townships, including the cities and villages inside them); northern Wood County (Rossford, Northwood and part of Perrysburg Township); and western Ottawa County (Clay and Allen townships). Open seat.

Candidates Compare by issue

David J. Fournier

Democratic

Attorney · Whitehouse

The gist

Opposes tax breaks for data centers.
Proposes requiring data centers to generate their own power.
Supports property-tax relief for homeowners over corporate breaks.
Opposes diverting tax dollars to private programs and schools.
Supports protecting rural hospitals and access to care.

More about David

View sources (1)

Opposes tax breaks for data centers.
Fournier for Ohio | Ohio House District 44
Campaign website · Fournier for Ohio · Dave Fournier's Data Center Plan · fournierforohio.com
“Absolutely no tax breaks or tax incentives.”
Proposes requiring data centers to generate their own power.
Fournier for Ohio | Ohio House District 44
Campaign website · Fournier for Ohio · Dave Fournier's Data Center Plan · fournierforohio.com
“Data centers must produce their own power off the grid so they do not increase local electric costs.”
Supports property-tax relief for homeowners over corporate breaks.
Fournier for Ohio | Ohio House District 44
Campaign website · Fournier for Ohio · Affordability · fournierforohio.com
“Real property-tax relief for homeowners—not more breaks for corporations and developers.”
Opposes diverting tax dollars to private programs and schools.
Fournier for Ohio | Ohio House District 44
Campaign website · Fournier for Ohio · Cleaning Up Columbus · fournierforohio.com
“diverting our tax dollars to unaccountable private programs, schools, and special interests”
Supports protecting rural hospitals and access to care.
Fournier for Ohio | Ohio House District 44
Campaign website · Fournier for Ohio · Healthcare · fournierforohio.com
“Protect rural hospitals and access to care.”

Edward L. Schimmel

Republican

Northwood

The gist

Supports phasing out the state income tax.
Supports school choice, including voucher funding.
Supports banning DEI in higher education.
Opposes tax credits for data centers.
Opposes assisted suicide; supports pregnancy center funding.

More about Edward

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Supports phasing out the state income tax.
Ed Schimmel for Ohio's 44th District State Representative
Campaign website · Ed Schimmel campaign · The Issues: Tax Reform · edschimmelforohio.com
“Phase out State Income Tax.”
Supports school choice, including voucher funding.
Ed Schimmel for Ohio's 44th District State Representative
Campaign website · Ed Schimmel campaign · Schools & Higher Education · edschimmelforohio.com
“Support school choice.”
Supports banning DEI in higher education.
Ed Schimmel for Ohio's 44th District State Representative
Campaign website · Ed Schimmel campaign · Schools & Higher Education: Fix Higher Education · edschimmelforohio.com
“Ban DEI”
Opposes tax credits for data centers.
Ed Schimmel for Ohio's 44th District State Representative
Campaign website · Ed Schimmel campaign · Economic Development: Regulation of Data Centers · edschimmelforohio.com
“Oppose tax credits.”
Opposes assisted suicide; supports pregnancy center funding.
Ed Schimmel for Ohio's 44th District State Representative
Campaign website · Ed Schimmel campaign · Individual Freedoms / Protection of Life · edschimmelforohio.com
“Oppose assisted suicide.”

Lyndsey A. Stough

Independent

Architect · Sylvania

The gist

Supports restoring the Local Government Fund.
Supports properly funding public education.
Supports a direct highway from Northwest Ohio to Columbus.
Supports reducing government spending.

More about Lyndsey

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Supports restoring the Local Government Fund.
Lyndsey Stough — Independent for Ohio House District 44
Campaign website · Lyndsey Stough campaign · I Believe · votestough.org
“The Local Government Fund needs to be restored and tax dollars shared.”
Supports properly funding public education.
Lyndsey Stough — Independent for Ohio House District 44
Campaign website · Lyndsey Stough campaign · I Believe · votestough.org
“Public education is valuable and important, and needs to be properly funded.”
Supports a direct highway from Northwest Ohio to Columbus.
Lyndsey Stough — Independent for Ohio House District 44
Campaign website · Lyndsey Stough campaign · I Believe · votestough.org
“A direct highway from Northwest Ohio to Columbus unlocks economic opportunities.”
Supports reducing government spending.
Lyndsey Stough — Independent for Ohio House District 44
Campaign website · Lyndsey Stough campaign · I Believe · votestough.org
“Reduce government spending and uphold fiscal responsibility for long-term quality of life.”

Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 6 issues covered in this race.